By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Frenchman Adrian Mannarino fought off Sebastian Korda 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to capture his fourth career championship at the Astana Open.
Photo credit: Kazakhstan Tennis Federation Facebook
Driven by the deep belief no point is a lost cause, Adrian Mannarino rallied to the Astana Open title today.
The 35-year-old Frenchman fought off Sebastian Korda 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to capture his fourth career championship in Kazakhstan.
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World No. 34 Mannarino converted four of eight break points in a two hour, nine-minute triumph that comes three years after he lost to John Millman in the Astana Open final.
It's the second title of the season for Mannarino, who ruled the historic grass of Newport in July. Mannarino is the first Frenchman to win multiple ATP titles in the same season since 2020 when both Ugo Humbert and Gael Monfils won two titles.
The left-handed Mannarino expanded his championship collection and extended Korda's futility in hard-court finals.
The fifth-seeded Korda fell to 1-5 in ATP finals suffering his fifth career hard-court finals loss.
Playing flat shots down both lines, Mannarino tested Korda's consistency and patience.
Despite the fact he was giving up 12 years in age to the 23-year-old American, Mannarino moved fluidly and stretched the court in the decisive set.
Flicking back a forehand return, Mannarino raced from sideline-to-sideline knifing a slick backhand pass that helped him extend his third-set lead.
Mannarino raised his 2023 record to 37-20, the highest single-season win total of his career, and climbs to No. 23 in the ATP Live Rankings.